Electric organ



June 9, 1936. E. E. COUPLEUX 2,043,328

r ELECTRIC ORGAN Filed on. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1936.

E. E. couPLEux 2,043,828

ELECTRIC ORGA N 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 06x. 26, 1935 L V -+HT+ Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE EIECTRIO ORGAN Edouard Eloi Coupleux, Tourcolng, France Application mm 26. 1935, Serial No. 46,951 In France October 27, 1934 11 Claims.

The object of the present invention is a particular connection of the tube oscillators of a radiophonic organ and a particular set or arrangement of coupling valves, connected to the said tube oscillators so as to facilitate the operation, to imitate the playing of a pipe organ and only to require one single row of tube oscillators, capable of producing the different stops, whatever may be the key-boards and the key-relation- Referring to the connection of a single tube oscillator such as shown in Fig. 1, the invention extends over the following features:

Like in the organ of this type, the valve l is controlled by the key 2, but in the occurrence, the heating circuit comprises a resistance .3, which is in closed circuit, when=the key is not actuated. By depressing the key, the resistance is short-circuited by the contact of 4 with the blade 5, thus insuring the softness of starting of the pipe organ. In fact, when the resistance 3 is switched on, the heating voltage is lo,wered to about 3 or 3.5 volts. At the moment of switching in (short-circuiting of 3), a fraction of a 25 second is required to enable the filament, put

7 under 4 volts, to attain its heating norm. By regulating the resistance 3, the operator may obtain the normal repetition and the softness of starting the note.

30 According to another feature of the invention, use is made of a variable condenser 6, shunted by means of a resistance 1, which owing to its inaudible oscillations of relaxation, superposing those of the oscillating circuit, enables to vary 35 the timbre in response to the values of the introduced capacity.- Following the timbre or tonality of each valve, this capacity will be of the rang of 5/1000 to 1/10 microfarad, the resistance being of the rang of 100.000 ohms.

40 The oscillating circuit comprises the self-induction coil 8 and the condenser ll. This coil constitutes a winding of the transformer Hi. the return circuit of the grid beinginsured by the contact II in such a manner that when the key 45 is pressed down, this contact communicates with 4 and the oscillations of the tube may be produced and pass to the loud-speaker. When the key is not depressed, the return of the grid circuit is broken and thus the noteis stopped. The

50 secondary N of the transformer is connected to a loud-speaker I 5 provided with an interrupter It (the filters and the amplifiers are not shown v in the drawings) nects alternately the resistance I!) so as to insure 1 the vibrato with the desired characteristics.

Eventually, a loud-speaker 2| with its capacity 22 and its interrupter 23 may be inserted in the plate circuit so as.to give a timbre, which is different from that of the loud-speaker I5. 5

Another feature of the invention is to utilize coupling valves on tubes, which oscillate in a permanent manner. When the key of a keyboard is depressed, high voltage passes to the plate of the corresponding coupling valves. With one single row of oscillators, itis therefore possible to obtain diiferent timbres or stops, for example an eight feet bourdon accompanying a four feet bagpipe stop and so on. g

The resistances and the capacities of the cou- 25 pling valves are chosen at such values that the constant of time may correspond to the constant of time of the start in the pipe organs.

Fig. 2 shows the connection of three valves of the organ with two key-boards. For the sake of greater cleamess, only the said transformer, provided with three windings, is shown on each'tube oscillator.

The first key-board I is arranged for eight feet with the coupling valves of the upper row and for four feet with the coupling valves of the row, which lies below the first one. The key-board II comprises coupling valves for eight feet. The oscillating tubes are shown at V, V, V" Fig. 2

' shows tubes oscillating each at the octave of the 40 preceding tube. Thus, for example, V will be uta, V' will be uta, V-will be M4 and so on. Of course, there are also intermediary oscillators giving the diflerent notes which are comprised between all the octaves.

These tube oscillators are always in service and each attacks the grid of the coupling valves, associated with it in the different key-boards. In the present case, only two key-boards are utilized, but it is quite possible to increase their number.

The tube V controls the coupling valve Vl'Of the first key-board and the valve V: of the second key-board, these valves being foreseen at eight feet or steps. In the same manner, V aflects Vi andV's, which are also provided at eight feet or steps, but it controls at the same time the coupling valve V; of four feet or the first key-board. This coupling valve will therefore produce the octave of V and it will be energized by the same key T1 as the coupling valve V1 of V.

All the coupling valves oi! four feet, viz: V's, V"4, V"'4 will control the four foot stop, when the corresponding key of the first key-board is pressed down, as for example V1.

The two valves V1 of the eight foot stop and r V 1 of the four foot stop of the first key-board work simultaneously, but V1 transmits the frequency f of the oscillator V and V4 the frequency 2; of V. The outputs of the series of valves V1, V1, V: and those of the series of valves Vi, V "4, V"'4 are separate and each of them affects the input valves L1, L'1 of the amplifiers of eight feet and of four feet respectively.

When the interrupters J1 and J2 are not closed, the plate of the input valves of the amplifiers has no current supply (these 'interrupters J1 and J2 correspond with the admission handles of the stops). If it is desired, for example, to give expression to an eight foot stop, the handle J1 is to be extended; the plate of the input valve L1 is connected to the high voltage and the following valves of the amplifier will be affected by the oscillations emanating from all the valves or the series V1, V1, V"1 and the amplified oscillations will be heard in the loud-speaker.

As to the second fourfoot stop on first key board responding to the valves "7'4, 1 1, V4 use is made of the interrupter J'1 in order to put in service the corresponding amplifier. As to the second hey-board comprising the eight feet series with the valves V2, V's, V;1 use is made of the interrupter J2, which controls the voltage on the first valve L2 of the corresponding amplifier.

Referring now to the disposition of the cou-- pling elements, it will be seen from the diagram that the valves V1, V1, V"1, the valves V2, V'z, V"2 and also the valves Vl, V4, V"'-1 form resistance amplifiers. The examination of the con nections on one of the valves, for example V1, leads to the statement that the plate circuit comprises the resistance R2 producing the difference of alternating potential. This circuit comprises also a discoupling resistance R1 through which takes place the discharge of the condenser C1. The values of R1 and C1 are chosen in such a manner that the constant of time of the system may correspond to the constant of time of the start in the pipe organs.

The resistance R1 is directly connected to the high voltage source B1 by the key of the keyboard T1, with a potentiometer for adjusting. Use may also be made of a relay (not shown). When a key, such as T1, is lifted, the condensers do not discharge through the space between the filament and the grid, which would require one or several seconds, but through the resistance Re, connected to the negative of the heating source B. This source has a voltage, which is superior to that of the filament for some volts, on account of the presence of resistance R1. Thus, when the key T1 is lifted, the plate of the cou pling valve V1 takes a potential, which is inferior for some volts to that of all the points of the filament, which permits to avoid any background noise caused by the persistence of slight electronic currents.

The adjustment of the expression is effected by the variation oi the plate voltage just with the aid of the potentiometer P1, which will give en pression to the swell for example, as represented in the diagram, while the potentiometer P2. mounted on the battery B: which responds to the valves V2, Va, V"2 oi the second keyboard, will give expression for example to the big orgen.

Thus, the organist, depressing a key of the first key-board, will be able to call up independently an eight foot stop or a tour foot stop by depressing a special key of one of the stops, and there may also be provided a very great diversity of combinations of this kind, the number of ecupling valves not being limited to that shown in the diagram.

As the stop of harmonics has a power depend ing upon the important high voltage, as explained before, it is possible to graduate this power by means of the interposition of resistances (not shown) either for each octave or for each note so as to harmonize the harmonic notes at will. This interposition of resistances is effected either on one single wire (case of a special row of am plifiers) or on the wires coming from the key board to each harmonic note, which permits oi avoiding the too great importance of the shrill notes and giving the predominance in intensity to the tonal note.

The device of static tremolo (not shown) is based upon the utilization of the discharge of a condenser through a voltage limiting device (for example a valve containing rarified gas). Advantageously, use is made of voltage limiting de vices with heated cathode.

I claim:

1. A radiophonic organ comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a corn denser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the selfinduction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a third winding on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit.

2. A radiophonic organ comprising a .valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a condenser variably shunted on the grid circuit, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reprcducer, a third winding on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit.

3. A radiophonio organ comprising a valve with an oscillating 'circuit' for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction cell, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the selfinduction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit, a resistance in the circuit of heating of the filament, a key with contacts -for short-circuiting this resistance, when the key is depressed.

4. A radiophonic organ comprising a valve with an oscillating. circuit for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, 9. small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the selfinduction coil of the oscillating circuit, a second- 'ary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a third winding on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit, with a resistance in the high voltage circuit, a vibrator with a 75 aoaaaaa for producing continuous oscillation of the oscilblade and contacts for alternately switching in or removal of the said resistance.

5. A radiophonic organ comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the selfinduction'coil of the oscillating'circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformerand connected to the sound-reproducer, a third winding 'on the transformer, a variable resistance,

branched on this winding in closed circuit, with a loud-speaker, provided with an interrupter, placed on the secondary of the transformer and a second loud-speaker, placed into the plate circult.

6. A radiophonicorgan. comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for eachnote, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted'by the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a third wind ing on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit, means for producing continuous oscillation of the oscillator tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one for each stop in the key-board, a set of amplifiers surmounting each row of valves, an interrupter for supplying high voltage to the plate of the first valve.

'7. A radiophonic organ,v comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by, the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a third winding on the transformer, a variable branched onthis winding in closed circuit, means for producing continuous oscillation of the os-' cillator tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one hr each stop in the key-board, a set of amplifiers surmounting each row of valves, an interrupter for. supplying high voltage to the plate of,

branched'on this winding in closed circuit, means later tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one for each min the key-board, a set ofampliflers surmoimting each row of valves,an interrupter for supplying high voltage to the plate of the first valve, the valves of one coupling series being connected to the tube oscillators with a forward displacement of an octave.

9. A radiophonic organ, comprising a valve with an oscillating circuitfor each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a third wind-- ing on the transformer, a variable resistance,

branched on this winding in closed circuit, means for producing continuous oscillation of the oscillator tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one for each stop in the key-board, a set of ampllflers surmounting each row of valves, ,an interrupter for supplying high voltage to the plate of the first valve, with a potentiometer, placed on the high voltage battery.

10. A radiophonic organ, comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small ,sized transformer with a primary,constituted by the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to thesound-reproducer, a third winding on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closedcircuit, means for producing continuous oscillation of the oscillator tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one for each'stop in the key-board, a set of ampliflers surmounting each row of valves, an interrupter for supplying high voltage to the plate of the first valve, with adjustable resistances on the high voltage supply. I

11. A- radiophonic organ, comprising a valve with an oscillating circuit for each note, with a condenser, a self-induction coil, a small sized transformer with a primary, constituted by the self-induction coil of the oscillating circuit, a secondary, mounted on the transformer and connected to the sound-reproducer, a-third wind- I ing on the transformer, a variable resistance, branched on this winding in closed circuit, means for producing continuous oscillation of the oscillator tubes, coupling valves at the ratio of one for each stop in the key-board, a set of ampliflers surmounting each row of valves, an interrupter for supplying highvoltage to the plate of the first valve, with a condenser, a voltage lim- 5 iting device with heated "condenser.

- EDQUARD EDOI COUPLEUX.

cathode, placed on this 

